Joel’s in the dark

by Joel on January 17, 2007

Some might think my views less than illuminating, but now I really am in the dark and the cold. It is a somewhat chilly 44 degrees F in the parsonage in northeastern Oklahoma one-half mile from the Arkansas state line, after a significant ice storm cut power for more than 500,000 in a multi-state area. Thanks to a propane water heater, I am able to take hot showers. My portable car battery charger allows me to watch a little on the tube on a small black and white TV, and to charge up some fairly powerful portable lights. I picked well when I selected my sleeping bag. And when I make pastoral visits to those with power, I take my laptop along and plead for some juice. That half-a-mile into Arkansas the power is on and I can go to the gym to exercise to warm up. I’ve had offers to stay at others’ homes, but by now this is just a little like camping out. Although I could not begin to identify with what the tsunami, Katrina or war victims have been through, I don’t think it such a bad thing to be made mildly uncomfortable for a while until the electric returns. I’ve had a very blessed life, so I won’t whine over the trivial. The reading of the many posts by and about Mike is to see a heart focused on people and not merely the material comforts of the world. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.”

It has now been six days without power. While an inconvenience, and a little chilly, the moment has been used by God to deepen my prayer life and to appreciate the blessings the more, including that of serving and being served.. I do regret that it is likely for the second Sunday that our congregants will need to worship at other houses. But then, maybe that will also be illuminating.

The first blessings: The Great I Am and the purposes to which we are cakked. Other blessings: Shelter, food, water, the faith family, blood family, friends, and again, hot showers via a propane water tank! And closeness to a town with power!